78  ch 75- In the Cover of Darkness.

The Genome Empire’s technological supremacy was unmatched, built entirely on its own relentless advancements—unlike the Minotaur, who inherited knowledge from their ancient home world, Minotaur Prime.

Over centuries, the Genome developed devices capable of detecting even the slightest fluctuations in space—and, to some extent, time—rivaling the relics of lost civilizations.

Deep within the heart of the Genome Empire, on its core world Geoni’s Prime, a planet bathed in an ethereal blue glow radiated through the vastness of space. Unlike Earth’s natural atmospheric hue, Geoni’s Prime’s glow was both natural and artificial, a marvel of advanced technology seamlessly integrated with its environment.

The planet’s infrastructure was a testament to the pinnacle of futuristic design. Towering skyscrapers, their sleek structures piercing the very clouds, dominated the skyline, stretching as far as the eye could see. Futuristic yet elegant, every building reflected the empire’s technological superiority.

At the heart of Geoni’s Prime stood a colossal palace, a breathtaking fusion of modern innovation and ancient architectural grandeur. The structure blended the past and future in perfect harmony, exuding an aura of both wisdom and power. Surrounding the palace was an immense fortress wall, nearly 400 meters tall, composed of an unknown, impenetrable material that shimmered under the artificial light.

Deep within the palace, in its most central chamber, a vast grand hall lay shrouded in darkness. At its center, a massive holographic map hovered, casting a ghostly glow across the chamber. The map depicted a detailed view of the surrounding space, divided into four distinct regions:

A green sector, marking the vast territory of the Genome Empire.

A red sector, indicates the territory of the Minar Clan.

A blue sector, representing the Ausar empire.

And lastly, an ominous fourth region, completely shrouded in darkness, marked with deep crimson letters: FORBIDDEN SPACE.

The three empires formed a triangular formation, seemingly containing the ominous dark region within their borders. Yet, the presence of the forbidden space—mysterious and foreboding—loomed over them all, an ever-present shadow over the delicate balance of power.

Surrounding the massive holographic map was a circular arrangement of seats, meticulously positioned to reflect both hierarchy and unity.

At the very center sat Emperor Xyphon V, his presence commanding absolute attention. He wore a crimson robe, its fabric shimmering under the ethereal blue glow of the chamber. A golden crown, infused with streaks of radiant blue energy, adorned his head, symbolizing both his supreme authority and his connection to the empire’s deep-rooted power.

His expression remained neutral, unreadable.

Seated around him were his three most trusted Archdukes—Vakeryks, Draxon, and Cykus—alongside the Grand Elders of the empire.

Though their faces bore the weight of centuries, their eyes shone with unwavering vitality, a testament to their superior life ranks. Each of them had ascended through countless evolutions, much like Emperor Xyphon V and the Archdukes themselves, making them paragons of power within the empire.

The atmosphere in the grand chamber was heavy with tension. Every individual present bore an expression of sharp focus, their gazes fixed on the emperor, waiting for him to speak.

Xyphon V swept his piercing gaze across the chamber before finally speaking in a measured yet commanding tone.

“The disturbances around the Forbidden Space have intensified. Our latest observations have confirmed unusual fluctuations in the surrounding region, a phenomenon detected by our pinnacle space-measuring devices.”

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.

“The Forbidden Sector appears to be weakening. As for the cause… it remains unknown for now. However, what is undeniable is that the Minotaur Clan has already begun to make their move—covertly and cautiously.”

A murmur passed through the assembled leaders, though none dared to interrupt.

His gaze sharpened as he continued.

“Furthermore, reports from our spies stationed in the region have confirmed the deployment of the 7th Light Fleet near the Forbidden Space. Their presence cannot be a coincidence.”

A heavy silence filled the room as the assembled leaders processed this revelation. The implications were clear—something was stirring in the dark void of Forbidden Space, and the Minotaur’s were already moving to capitalize on it.

As soon as the barrier surrounding the forbidden space completely despites that is!

Standing near the holographic display, Grand Elder Zykon remained silent, his hands clasped behind his back as he studied the ominous void that marked Forbidden Space.

After a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice deep and contemplative.

“Centuries—even, millennia—have passed in silence. And now, at long last, the fractures begin to show.”

He turned to face the emperor and the assembled leaders. “If the Minotaur’s are mobilizing their fleets in secret and the 7th light fleet at that, it means they have discovered something. And if even they are moving cautiously… then whatever they have found is significant enough to make them tread where they would normally charge headfirst.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room, accompanied by silent nods. His analysis echoed the thoughts that had already taken root in their minds.

Leaning forward, Grand Elder Xyohor spoke, his voice calm yet weighted with certainty.

“What you say makes sense, Grand Elder Zykon. And as for them having discovered something—well, I do not doubt that either. However, I believe it is not merely a discovery, but rather an understanding they already possess about the Forbidden Space.”

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing, his measured gaze sweeping the gathered leaders across the chamber.

“My reasoning is not without basis. We all know that the Minotaurs have long built their empire upon the remnants of a civilization lost to time—a power that is not their own, yet has become the foundation of their strength. It is this reliance on past glories that makes them weak… but not blind. If they are moving—especially with such caution—then it is because they know something about the Forbidden Land. Perhaps, they even believe they stand to gain from it.”

A heavy silence followed, the weight of his words pressing down on all present. If the Minotaur’s were indeed acting with such deliberation, then whatever secrets lay within the Forbidden Space could be more dangerous—and more valuable—than any of them had previously imagined.

The grand chamber once again fell into a heavy silence. Every gathered member, including the emperor himself, was deep in contemplation over Grand Elder Xyphon’s words. The weight of the revelation lingered, unspoken but deeply felt.

The silence was soon broken by Archduke Virex, who stood with his arms crossed, his voice steady yet firm. “As His Majesty has already mentioned, our spies have confirmed the deployment of the 7th Fleet in the Rigid Star System. Based on our intelligence, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 8th, and 10th divisions of the 7th Fleet have been mobilized and are currently assembling there.”

He exhaled sharply before continuing. “This tells us that the Minotaurs intend to take control of the Forbidden Space as quickly as possible, without giving us or the Ausar Empire any time to react.”

His words were met with approving nods from the other gathered leaders—unsurprising, as Archduke Virex was the direct commander of the empire’s naval forces.

Archduke Selthar scoffed, shaking his head. “The Minotaur’s are as arrogant as ever, thinking no one would notice their movements. But at the very least, this confirms one thing—they are aware of something valuable in that space. Just as Grand Elder Xyphon suspected.”

Archduke Threxus, who had remained silent until now, smirked at Virex’s report. “Perhaps,” he mused, “this could be our opportunity as well.”

At the mention of the word “opportunity,” the attention of the entire chamber sharpened. Threxus did not miss this, and his smile widened slightly before he continued.

None in the room looked particularly surprised by his words. In truth, this thought had been running through their minds from the moment they received the intelligence report. If something within the Forbidden Space was significant enough for the Minotaur’s to mobilize in secrecy, then it was certainly valuable enough to be beneficial to their empire as well.

Yet, where there were opportunities, there were also risks. This was why no one had spoken of it outright—until now.

But now that Archduke Threxus had voiced it, there was no longer a need for hesitation.

The Genome Emperor was deep in thought, weighing the risks and opportunities before him. He hesitated to voice his thoughts, knowing that every opportunity came with its dangers—especially when the Minotaur Clan was involved. And who knew how the Ausar Empire would respond?

As for what lay within the Forbidden Space… that remained an enigma, even to him.

Yet, as he observed the gathered leaders nodding in agreement with Archduke Threxus, he realized that hesitation would not serve them here. Perhaps caution was necessary, but inaction was not an option.

His eyes narrowed as he considered their next move. Then, in a voice of firm authority, he declared, “Perhaps we can indeed make our move and seize this opportunity that has presented itself. However, we must acknowledge that we cannot claim it entirely for ourselves when the time comes.”

He paused, letting his words settle before continuing. “The Minotaur’s are not weak. If they were, we would have swallowed them long ago. To claim whatever lies within the Forbidden Space, we will have to compete with them—whether through strength, strategy, or both.”

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